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NAACP News Clips June 1 2018

The NAACP is once again taking it to the courts, this time filing a federal lawsuit against Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and her Department of Education for abandoning civil rights enforcement regulations, and dismissing hundreds of complaints.

A Mississippi congressman is urging his Connecticut colleagues to meet with NAACP members to discuss concerns about racial discrimination at the Coast Guard Academy. The Day newspaper reports Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson recently talked about those concerns with NAACP members in New London, the academy’s home. He’s urging three Connecticut Democrats — U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy and U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney — to do the same.

Our goal is to come in and make sure that the entire community though, black and brown, non-NAACP members understand that they’re welcomed, they’re invited,” said Michael Turner, National Board Member Chair of Convention Planning Committee.

“NAACP, we are at a critical juncture,” Johnson told the audience of about 200. “You look at the current political landscape, the loss of civility, the rise in hate crime and intolerance. We were created for a time like this.” The circumstances that created the NAACP in 1909 are not wildly different from the injustices driving the organization today, Johnson said.

The NAACP is slamming the NFL for its decision to ban political protests such as taking a kneel at games during the singing of the national anthem. The civil rights organization released a statement saying that instead of coming together to address an issue that disproportionately plagues African-Americans, NFL owners have chosen to silence players.

NAACP President and Chief Executive Officer Derrick Johnson called on the league to rescind the policy and said team owners must not “fold” to the Trump administration by denying players the ability to raise questions around aggressive policing. “This is not about disrespecting the flag, this is about using their platform to advocate a social justice position that all citizens should be treated with human dignity even when pulled over by police,” Johnson told Reuters in an interview.

NBC: Civil rights groups protest at NFL HQ for players’ right to kneel“I’m not here to talk to the NFL. They have already drawn the line in the sand and they have doubled down on us,” said Tamika Mallory, a Women’s March leader and black activist joined by members of the National Action Network, the NAACP and other civil rights groups.

LA Times:‘Roseanne’ cancellation a huge blow to ABC, but network praised for swift action The network was praised for it swift response. “Roseanne Barr’s comments were appalling and reminiscent of a horrific time in our history when racism was not only acceptable but promoted by Hollywood,” wrote NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson in a statement released Tuesday. “We applaud ABC for taking a stand against racism by canceling ‘Roseanne’ today.”

The Hill: NAACP slams NFL for gag rule on national anthemThe NAACP criticized the NFL on Wednesday for its decision to ban players from kneeling during the national anthem. “Protest is an American tradition; by protesting we work to hold our country accountable to its highest ideals,” the NAACP said in a statement. “Instead of coming together to address an issue disproportionately plaguing the African-American, the NFL owners have chosen to bury their heads and silence players.”

On a bustling day in her Baltimore office less than a month into her new role, she was simultaneously planning young people’s participation in three upcoming events, including the National Walkout on March 14 and a gun reform rally 10 days after that. Students as young as sixth- and seventh-graders want to take action because they see themselves as agents of change and they want to be heard, says Loftin. She is thrilled about their enthusiasm and drive, and prioritizes plans to protect their interests and safety.

A group of Black motorcyclists teamed up with the NAACP to file a lawsuit against the city of Myrtle Beach, S.C., as well as its local police department, for alleged racial discrimination shown towards those who participate in Black Bike Week. According to the NAACP, the complaint alleges that there are major differences in the treatment of African-American bikers during Black Bike Week in comparison to how bikers are treated during Harley Week, which attracts mostly White riders. While both bike events occur in May, Black Bike Week is traditionally held during Memorial Day Weekend, while Harley Week occurs a week prior.

Local and state officials are applauding measures taken by law enforcement officers during the annual Atlantic Beach Bikefest — measures that have been criticized by Myrtle Beach businesses and members of the NAACP. This year, the event did not attract as many attendees as in previous years, and fewer motorcycles were seen driving down Ocean Boulevard. Businesses across the city reporter lower numbers over the holiday weekend.

Rev. Gerald Arnold, the president of the local NAACP tells Eyewitness News, Barr’s tweet is disturbing.
“I’m really disappointed,” said Rev. Arnold. “It’s just not there with it because in these times there’s too much going on and the polarization we are in, our president and things that are going on, you would think that people with common sense – and maybe we need to be uncommon today — would just censor what you say.”

“Kobach is at the center of a lot of voter suppression efforts happening around the country,” Mueller told the Crusader. “What has been found is that [Crosscheck] is at a 99 percent rate of false positives. That means 99 percent of people it targets is wrong. A Harvard study showed that [this program] has the ability to eliminate 200 legitimate voters for every one double voter.” Both the state chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the League of Women Voters have also filed a lawsuit to stop the new law from taking effect on July 1.

Federal judges appointed by Republican presidents give black defendants sentences that are, on average, six to seven months longer than the sentences they give to similar white defendants, according to a new working paper from Alma Cohen and Crystal Yang of Harvard Law School. That racial sentencing disparity is about twice as large as the one observed among judges appointed by Democrats, who give black defendants sentences that are three to four months longer than the sentences they give to white defendants with similar histories who commit similar crimes.

The Alabama NAACP will hold three joint press conferences today in Birmingham, Huntsville, and Montgomery as part of National Gun Violence Awareness Day. The Birmingham press conference will be held at 10 a.m. at the Birmingham Civil Rights Activists Committee Headquarters at 1707 4th Ave North. This weekend (June 1-3) marks Wear Orange Weekend, a movement in support of gun violence prevention started in 2015.

In a letter issued today to the governor whose resignation will be finalized today at 5 PM Central Time, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson said: “I am writing to respectfully request that you commute the death sentence of Marcellus Williams. Last August you took the courageous step to stay Mr. William’s execution, and I ask that you make this decision permanent before leaving office tomorrow. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has long been opposed to the death penalty in any case because it is a cruel, inhumane, and unnecessary punishment that has been applied in a racially disparate manner. However, above and beyond these general problems, there are compelling reasons to spare Mr. William’s life.”

“Protest is an American tradition; by protesting we work to hold our country accountable to its highest ideals. Instead of coming together to address an issue disproportionately plaguing the African-American, the NFL owners have chosen to bury their heads and silence players. Players cannot disconnect from the aggression African-Americans face every day. Just a few weeks ago, an NFL player was stopped by police and accused of being a gang member. Others including Michael Bennett have experienced dangerous and threatening experiences at the hands of police.

“Roseanne Barr’s comments were appalling and reminiscent of a horrific time in our history when racism was not only acceptable but promoted by Hollywood. We applaud ABC for taking a stand against racism by canceling Roseanne today. We commend the network and its president Channing Dungey for placing the values of diversity, inclusion, and respect for humanity above ratings,” said NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson.

On May 24, 2018, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5682, the FIRST STEP Act. The intent of this legislation is to bring some humanity to the way in which many federal prisoners are treated and to alleviate prison overcrowding by potentially allowing some prisoners who have completed rehabilitation and established themselves as no longer being a threat to society to be released from jail.

As I think of how disrespectful people are to Mother Earth and how we are interdependent on each other, I also think of how we are stewards of her. As people, we have a personal responsibility to take care of her. When people ask me how I got into the work of Environmental and Climate Justice, especially people of European descent, it’s perplexing because I am not for sure if people are confused by what Environmental Justice means or the fact Environmental Injustice impacts people of color, especially women of color with children.

Today's #BlackHistoryMonth highlight: The @NAACP's vision is to ensure a society where all people have equal rights without racial discrimination. We strive to empower those who are dedicated to improving our world! To learn more about this #org, visit: https://t.co/Ec7MQZEScg